Walks of Life: Scientists

The scientists below support the Endangered Species Act.

Rurik List

Habitat loss, over harvesting, exotic species and diseases are some of the leading factors of species loss, and none of these factors are declining; moreover, climate change will increase the number of species and populations that will become endangered. Without the protection of the Endangered Species Act to reduce the loss and transformation of the habitat of the species at risk, and the implementation of actions to reduce the probability of extinction of the included species, many will disappear within our life-times. The passenger pigeon is an example of what can happen to a species without the protection of strict laws, as even thought it once thought it once numbered in the billions this species is now completely gone, while the winter run salmon, on the contrary, is one of the species which still exists because of the existence of the ESA.

If anything, the ESA does need to be more strict and consistent, basing the inclusion criteria in scientific arguments and not in political lobbying, as reflected by the case of the black-tailed prairie dog, a species that lost 98% of its range, and with it, populations of dependant species have fallen. Neither the absence of a large enough population of prairie dogs which can maintain the whole community it originally supported, nor the fact that  the recovery of other endangered species, like the black-footed ferret, depend on the recovery of the prairie dogs to recover, was the black-tailed prairie dog included in the ESA. Despite overwhelming arguments that justify the protection of prairie dogs, to maintain them as well as other dependent and declining species, the decision was made to not include them in the ESA. This action is adding a risk to the black-footed ferret since poisoning of prairie dogs is being allowed in the margins of the most important recovery site in existence, in THE Conata Basin.

Brian Miller

The Endangered Species Act is not about public opinion.  It is about ways to save a species, species that have been honed and refined over millions of years of evolution.  While ultimately, humans have to find enough generosity of spirit, enough compassion for life, so that we can coexist with all other life forms, in the short-term the Endangered Species Act has been necessary to halt declines when political will has been lacking.
After all, Noah's charge was to take all the species not just the ones that were politically easy.

Mary O'Brien

The Endangered Species Act lets scientists call to us when we're about to rip another hole in the fabric of life on this continent.  It provides us with procedures by which we can heed that call; retrieve a member of our family that was slipping away because of our neglect; and thereby increase the health, liveliness, and wealth of our Earth home.